Austin, Olena, and Sami sat quietly on the porch and watches Tim stare out across the yard. His lips tight in anger. No one knew what to say. Anything to set the Cajun off. It was as if his mind was trying to decide on what to do.
He suddenly turns and goes into the house slamming the door behind him causing them to jump.
"Y'all stay here." Austin says as he stands from the porch swing.
"Be careful." Olena says softly.
Austin cautiously walks inside the house. Tim's bedroom door was open and he could see his brother changing shirts.
"Uh, where ya going, Bro?" Austin asks from the doorway.
"I need answers." Tim says as he slips on his glasses and grabs his wallet and keys. "I'm going to Jenika's."
"Can you at least tell me what is going on?" Austin asks in a soft voice.
"I will when I get back, okay? I promise." Tim gives his little brother a sad smile. "I only know bits and pieces myself."
"Alright, you be careful." Austin nods as he steps back from the door. "Take Satchmo with you."
"I will." Tim nods.
Tim walks out of the house followed by Austin. He calls for Satchmo over his shoulder as he gets into the truck. The large dog jumps into the back of the truck as Tim starts his old truck.
"I don't know any more than I did before I went into the house." Austin says as he sits down beside Olena and takes his daughter. "He's going to go talk to Jenika."
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Sami says as she watches Tim drive away.
~~
Tim and Satchmo climb the steps leading up to Jenika's home. She had built her home herself and made sure it was out of danger from any flood waters by building it up on poles.
The door opens before Tim reaches the top step.
"I was kinda expecting you." The very tired looking blonde smiles.
Tim stops at the top step to catch his breath. He was definitely needing to lose some weight.
"Would you like a beer?" She asks as she turns to go back inside.
"No, but water would be nice." Tim says wiping his forehead as he sat down on the couch.
"I guess you're wanting to know what's going on." Jenika calls out from the kitchen.
"Yeah, that would help a hell of a lot." Tim replies. "I mean, one minute I'm cuddled on the couch with my husband and the next minute, he's leaving me."
"Oh, Honey, Adam would never leave you." Jenika says as she hands him the glass of water and sits down next to him. "You have that gorgeous blonde wrapped around your little finger."
"He would if Chris had anything to do with it." Tim says after taking a drink.
Jenika doesn't comment, only hangs her head.
"So when did all this sh*t start between you and Chris?" Tim asks.
"Actually, not long after we moved in together. I started to see a change in him." Jenika says.
"A change? Like how?" Tim asks as he sets the empty glass on the coffee table.
"Controlling, maybe?" Jenika answers. "He decided what I wore when we went out. He rarely let me go anywhere alone. Especially over to your house."
"He was jealous of me and Austin? But I'm gay and married to his brother and Austin has a solid relationship with Olena." Tim says.
"It didn't matter to him." Jenika shakes her head. "He didn't like me working at the clinic because of Chance. He was even jealous of Mark and Bob. That's how bad it's gotten."
"Jenika?" Tim says softly as he takes his friend by the hand. "Has he ever hit you? I want the truth."
"No, he's never actually hit me but he has shoved me against the wall several times or grabbed me by my arms and shook me while he yelled in my face. As a matter of fact...." She says as she rolls up her sleeves revealing bruises on her arms where he had grabbed her.
"Oh, Hell naw!" Tim says as he sees the bruises. His blood was beginning to boil. "Jen, I've seen you wrestle f*cking gators twice your size. Why didn't you fight back?"
"Because I actually loved him." Jenika shrugs. "But it got to the point where I couldn't take any more. He was slowly taking away my freedom. I was becoming a prisoner in my own home. He was wanting me to stop having anything to do with you guys. So I told him to pack his stuff and get out. I think that's when he decided to move back to Minnesota."
"And take my husband with him." Tim adds.
"I was in the bedroom when Adam came over. I heard a lot of the conversation." Jenika says. "A lot of it was them arguing. Adam couldn't believe how 'stupid' his brother had become. Especially when Chris suggested that he leave you and move back to Minnesota where 'they belong'. Chris said that you were only pulling Adam down to the poverty level and that he deserved more than just a 'swamp rat'."
"I can't believe this sh*t is even happening." Tim groans as he rubs his hands over his face.
"Adam finally agreed to go back with him but just long enough to help him find a place. But he made it perfectly clear that he was NOT leaving you and that he was very happy with you here in Teche. But, Tim...." Jenika says as she squeezes her bubba's hand. "I don't trust Chris at all. He's a control freak. I'm afraid of what he might do just to keep Adam there."
"That'll be his worst mistake ever." Tim says as he meets his friend's worried look. "I wasn't scared of Bayou Bob and I sure in hell ain't scared of that hog-nose motherf*cker."
~~
Tim arrives home to find the others eating supper. Now was a good time as any to fill them in on what was going on.
He begins to tell them, starting with his conversation with Adam in their bedroom. As he ate his supper, he moved on to his and Jenika's conversation about Chris's actions and what she had overheard from her bedroom.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" Austin asks, his face reddening with anger.
"Boy, he sure knew how to put on a show didn't he." Olena says, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I hope Adam knows just how conniving his brother is." Sami says.
"So what are you going to do?" Austin asks.
"Adam is supposed to call me when they get there. After that, he has three days. If he's not on his way back home by the end of the third day, I'm finding me a way to Minnesota and I'm bringing my husband home. If Chris tries to stand in my way? I'll mow him down." Tim says calmly.
"I'd pay money to see that." Sami smiles.
********
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